Hutchie twins set for Spain

Gregor Hollerin

IT WAS good news for both Hutchesons’ grammar school and the Eadie family after the announcement of the Scottish U18 girls hockey squad.

Hutchie twins Lucy and Jennifer Eadie both made the grade and will head to Santander, Spain, in July to take part in the EuroHockey U18 Nations Championship II.

The pair will work towards the tournament with a busy training schedule in Scotland, as well as a series of warm up games against the Czech Republic in Prague in June.

The duo, who were in action for Clydesdale Western in the club European championships this weekend, were both delighted to be selected. Striker Jenny told ExtraSport: “We get very competitive and push each other on. This is the biggest achievement of our lives so far in terms of hockey. It’s a huge honour to play for Scotland.”

Alison, a defender, added: “I didn’t expect it, especially after I wasn’t picked for the four nations championships when Jenny was, but that spurred me on to work even harder.”

After the championships, the sixth year pupils will embark on a prospect very unique to them, as they will be playing on different teams.

Jenny will stay with Clydesdale Western as she intends to study at Glasgow University, while Alison looks set to play her hockey with Edinburgh University.

The school’s first XI hockey coach Gillian Green thinks the pair will be missed next year.

She said: “They both led the team extremely well, helping to nurture a lot of younger players. I hoped all season long that both would earn a call up to the Scotland U18 squad and I was delighted when I heard the news. “They thoroughly deserve every success and hopefully it won’t be too long before they represent the U21s and eventually, the full squad.”

Scotland U18 Girls head coach Colin Clarke added: “The selection of the U18 squad for the European Championships has been an extremely challenging one due to the quality of the training squad.

“This decision is testament to the hard work all of the girls have put in over recent months.”